How do we integrate with Hands In?

There are two routes: our API for merchants who want to build the split experience into their own checkout, and our hosted checkout for a faster path with no front-end build. Both can be tested end to end in our sandbox before go-live.

Do we have to change our existing payment provider?

No. Hands In connects to your existing acquirers, gateways and orchestration platforms rather than replacing them. Funds continue to flow through your own PSP relationships and settle as they do today.

What is Hands In?

Hands In is a payments layer that sits on top of your existing setup and lets a single transaction be paid by more than one person or more than one card. You keep your current PSPs, MIDs and routing rules; we orchestrate the split, the authorisations and the capture on top of them.

How do you tackle fraud spikes during a split payment?

We can automatically stop a split payment if your fraud provider flags the transaction as fraudulent. You choose the threshold (for example, 1 or 2 fraudulent card payments within the split).

If that threshold is met, we immediately block the remaining cards in the split and void the rest of the transaction. This prevents spikes in fraud by ensuring that once fraud is detected, no further payments in the same split are processed.

We can also integrate with your existing fraud provider to receive the fraud signals (e.g., flagged cards/transactions) that trigger this behaviour.

What happens if one of the transactions declines?

Only the declined transaction fails. The customer is shown an error at checkout and can retry that portion with a different card or payment method, while the rest of the split is unaffected.

How does this work with refunds?

We facilitate full or partial refunds for both single and multiple cards.

  • For a full purchase refund, initiate it for the entire multi card purchase.

If you prefer refunding a single card, simply select the option and issue the refund.

What is the minimum amount you can pay on each payment?

The minimum amount is $1, and the amounts are set by the payer. We can accept all cards that are accepted by the PSPs you connect to Hands In.

How many payment methods can be used to split across?

The merchant can configure how many payment methods a customer can split across. We allow you to set a minimum & maximum value to control the number of split transactions the customer can make.

Will payment reminders be sent?

We send out automated payment reminders to everyone in a group via email and SMS. Additionally, all participants can send reminders to others in the transaction. The schedule for automated reminders depends on the length of the booking window.

Can a lead buyer kick or remove a group member? If so, how?

Yes. The owner of the group payment — marked with a yellow star next to their name — can remove members from the group dashboard. Click the dropdown arrow below the member you want to remove and confirm.

How does someone receive an invite to a group payment?

Each customer added into the group will receive an email and/or SMS with the invite link for them to join the payment.

Any member of the group payment also has access to invite others to join via a URL, email, SMS & QR code.

How long is the group checkout time?

You control this, and the limit depends on how your auth and/or capture process is. Instant capture has no maximum, so the checkout can stay open indefinitely. Delayed capture is capped at 7 days (168 hours), since that's how long an authorization can be held before it expires.

There's no minimum, but we recommend allowing enough time for the whole group to join and pay their share

How are group payments captured?

As each person agrees to pay, we authorise the amount for each customer in the group respectively and freeze the funds in their account. Once the group has made up the total, the funds are captured from each payment method to be settled.

What happens to the money when someone cancels a payment?

If someone cancels their payment, then the transaction amount will no longer be frozen and the customer’s funds will be released and made available back in the customer’s account. No one will be charged.

Can the pop-up solution be dynamically configured to transaction amounts of a certain level?

Yes, within the webhook notification, you could share with us from your acquirers' data of transaction values of above a certain amount, for example, in excess of $500, for which this solution can be presented. The benefit of working with HandsIn is that we can A/B test this with you alongside our launch of our other services

Do we need to integrate the Hands In split payment SDK in order for the pop-up solution to work?

No, it isn't a mandatory requirement, but it is a quicker path to integration. It means Hands In can control the popup shown to customers without you having to further develop your own integration and your checkout around this solution.

How does the Hands In Decline Recovery pop-up solution work?

When an NSF (insufficient funds) decline is detected, the merchant can display a dedicated recovery page triggered by a webhook notification from the acquirer as part of the Hands In integration. This page presents the customer with a split payment option, allowing them to use multiple cards to complete the transaction and recover a payment that would otherwise have been lost.

Can a merchant connect more than one PSP to Hands In?

Yes. Merchants can connect multiple gateways and keep their existing routing logic, which is useful where different currencies or regions are processed through different providers.

How does a merchant reconcile one order paid by multiple transactions?

Each split produces multiple underlying transactions mapped to a single Hands In payment record. Both the merchant dashboard and the API expose the parent payment alongside every child transaction and its gateway reference, so reconciliation stays one-to-one against your PSP reporting.

Does Hands In touch the funds or become the merchant of record?

No. Hands In orchestrates authorisation and capture through your PSP; funds move and settle through your existing acquiring relationships, and the merchant of record is unchanged.

As a PSP, what's the best way to pass merchant gateway credentials to Hands In?

We recommend that merchants create a Hands In account and connect you as their PSP. This allows them to keep their existing payment setup and routing rules unchanged.

Which types of PSPs can Hands In connect to?

Hands In can connect to acquirers, payment gateways, and orchestration platforms/APMs.

Is Hands In Compatible with NDC?

Hands In is compatible with NDC when it is connected through a hosted payment page for the airline with easy creation of payment links to support NDC flows.

How many PNR’s are issued?

A single PNR is created for passenger groups of 1–9, displayed as one PNR with multiple transactions.

Which Direct Channel can you support?

Hands In is compatible with all direct channel payments, including both mobile and web applications

Can I use this with my pre-existing fraud tool?

Yes. Hands In can work with your existing fraud setup, including third-party providers such as Riskified and Accertify, as well as in-house fraud solutions. You simply tell us how fraud is currently handled, and we’ll implement the appropriate connection into your payment flow.

How long can booking be kept open?

You control this, and the limit depends on how your auth and/or capture process is. Instant capture has no maximum, so the checkout can stay open indefinitely. Delayed capture is capped at 7 days (168 hours), since that's how long an authorization can be held before it expires.

There's no minimum, but we recommend allowing enough time for the whole group to join and pay their share

How do we handle one traveller dropping out of a booking?

The group has a few options. Another member can cover the outstanding share, the person can be replaced with someone else, or the merchant can choose to accept the partially paid booking and handle the remaining amount separately.

Which travel businesses is Hands In built for?

Tour operators, coach and rail operators, accommodation providers, activity and experience sellers, and travel agents. Anywhere a booking is made by a group but paid by individuals, or where a single traveller wants to spread a large total basket across several payment methods.

Can the checkout be white-labelled to our brand?

Yes. Our hosted checkout supports your logo and branding, and merchants building against the API keep their own front end entirely.

Can a travel agent set up the split on the customer's behalf?

Yes. An agent can create a payment link on the fly from our merchant dashboard and send it out by URL, email, SMS or QR code. They can set a fixed amount, by item, split equally across the party, or let each traveller choose their own amount, and they only need the total plus the lead booker's name and email to get started.

Can customers split across payment methods, not just cards?

Yes. Alongside card splits we support alternative payment methods where your PSP offers them, including PayPal and BNPL options such as Afterpay, Klarna and more.

How long can we hold a booking open while a group pays?

You control this, and the limit depends on how your auth and/or capture process is. Instant capture has no maximum, so the checkout can stay open indefinitely. Delayed capture is capped at 7 days (168 hours), since that's how long an authorization can be held before it expires.

There's no minimum, but we recommend allowing enough time for the whole group to join and pay their share

Which ticketing businesses is Hands In built for?

Tour operators, coach and rail operators, accommodation providers, activity and experience sellers, and travel agents. Anywhere a booking is made by a group but paid by individuals, or where a single traveller wants to spread a large total basket across several payment methods.

How do we handle one traveller dropping out of a booking?

The group has a few options. Another member can cover the outstanding share, the person can be replaced with someone else, or the merchant can choose to accept the partially paid booking and handle the remaining amount separately.

Can the checkout be white-labelled to our brand?

Yes. Our hosted checkout supports your logo and branding, and merchants building against the API keep their own front end entirely.

Can customers split across payment methods, not just cards?

Yes. Alongside card splits we support alternative payment methods where your PSP offers them, including PayPal and BNPL options such as Afterpay, Klarna and more.

How long can we hold a booking open while a group pays?

You control this, and the limit depends on how your auth and/or capture process is. Instant capture has no maximum, so the checkout can stay open indefinitely. Delayed capture is capped at 7 days (168 hours), since that's how long an authorization can be held before it expires.

There's no minimum, but we recommend allowing enough time for the whole group to join and pay their share

Can the checkout be white-labelled to our brand?

Yes. Our hosted checkout supports your logo and branding, and merchants building against the API keep their own front end entirely.

What happens if the group doesn't finish paying before the window closes?

Any authorisations taken are released and nothing is captured, so no traveller is charged for an incomplete booking. Alternatively, you can capture what had been authorised up until that point and settle the remaining unpaid balance at a later point.

Can a travel agent set up the split on the customer's behalf?

Yes. An agent can create a payment link on the fly from our merchant dashboard and send it out by URL, email, SMS or QR code. They can set a fixed amount, by item, split equally across the party, or let each traveller choose their own amount, and they only need the total plus the lead booker's name and email to get started.

Can customers split across payment methods, not just cards?

Yes. Alongside card splits we support alternative payment methods where your PSP offers them, including PayPal and BNPL options such as Afterpay, Klarna and more.

How long can we hold a booking open while a group pays?

You control this, and the limit depends on how your auth and/or capture process is. Instant capture has no maximum, so the checkout can stay open indefinitely. Delayed capture is capped at 7 days (168 hours), since that's how long an authorization can be held before it expires.

There's no minimum, but we recommend allowing enough time for the whole group to join and pay their share

Does Hands In support dynamic pricing?

Yes, we are able to support dynamic fluctuating price changes during the entire checkout time window for a booking.

Can the checkout be white-labelled to our brand?

Yes. Our hosted checkout supports your logo and branding, and merchants building against the API keep their own front end entirely.

What happens if the group doesn't finish paying before the window closes?

Any authorisations taken are released and nothing is captured, so no traveller is charged for an incomplete booking. Alternatively, you can capture what had been authorised up until that point and settle the remaining unpaid balance at a later point.

Can a travel agent set up the split on the customer's behalf?

Yes. An agent can create a payment link on the fly from our merchant dashboard and send it out by URL, email, SMS or QR code. They can set a fixed amount, by item, split equally across the party, or let each traveller choose their own amount, and they only need the total plus the lead booker's name and email to get started.

Can customers split across payment methods, not just cards?

Yes. Alongside card splits we support alternative payment methods where your PSP offers them, including PayPal and BNPL options such as Afterpay, Klarna and more.

How long can we hold a booking open while a group pays?

You control this, and the limit depends on how your auth and/or capture process is. Instant capture has no maximum, so the checkout can stay open indefinitely. Delayed capture is capped at 7 days (168 hours), since that's how long an authorization can be held before it expires.

There's no minimum, but we recommend allowing enough time for the whole group to join and pay their share

Can the checkout be white-labelled to our brand?

Yes. Our hosted checkout supports your logo and branding, and merchants building against the API keep their own front end entirely.

What happens if the group doesn't finish paying before the window closes?

Any authorisations taken are released and nothing is captured, so no traveller is charged for an incomplete booking. Alternatively, you can capture what had been authorised up until that point and settle the remaining unpaid balance at a later point.

Can a travel agent set up the split on the customer's behalf?

Yes. An agent can create a payment link on the fly from our merchant dashboard and send it out by URL, email, SMS or QR code. They can set a fixed amount, by item, split equally across the party, or let each traveller choose their own amount, and they only need the total plus the lead booker's name and email to get started.

Can customers split across payment methods, not just cards?

Yes. Alongside card splits we support alternative payment methods where your PSP offers them, including PayPal and BNPL options such as Afterpay, Klarna and more.

How long can we hold a booking open while a group pays?

You control this, and the limit depends on how your auth and/or capture process is. Instant capture has no maximum, so the checkout can stay open indefinitely. Delayed capture is capped at 7 days (168 hours), since that's how long an authorization can be held before it expires.

There's no minimum, but we recommend allowing enough time for the whole group to join and pay their share

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